Search DVDBeaver |
S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka "Children of Paradise")
directed by Marcel Carné
France 1945
Detailed here are some of the better known anecdotal minutia regarding the 1945 French film Children of Paradise:
|
Posters (CLICK to enlarge)
Theatrical Release: March 9th, 1945 - France
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Criterion (2 disc) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Second Sight - Region 2 - PAL vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT2) Second Sight - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT
|
Box Covers |
|
|
|
Distribution |
Criterion Collection Spine # 141 Region 1 - NTSC |
Second
Sight Films Ltd Region 2 - PAL |
Criterion Collection - Spine #141 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:41:45 + 1:29:18 = 3:11:03 | 3:01:48 (4% PAL speedup) | 3:10:29.875 |
Video |
1.37:1 Original Aspect Ratio |
1.37:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 43,237,819,249 bytesFeature: 42,748,226,688 bytes Video Bitrate: 25.97 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes |
|||
Bitrate: Criterion Disc 1 |
|
||
Criterion Disc 2 |
|
||
Bitrate:
Second Sight
|
|
||
Bitrate:
Blu-ray
|
|
||
Audio | French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) |
French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) |
LPCM Audio French 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps /
24-bit Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
Subtitles | English, and none | English (non-removable) | English, and none |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion Collection Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by film scholar Brian Stonehill • Commentary by film scholar Charles Affron • 24 page booklet, including transcribed excerpts from Brian Stonehill's 1990 interview with Marcel Carne, cast biographies, and essay by film historian Peter Cowie • Video introduction by director Terry Gilliam • Jacques Prevert's film treatment • Production designs by Aleandre Trauner • Production stills gallery • Filmographies for Marcel Carne and Jacques Prevert • U.S. theatrical trailer DVD Release Date: January 22, 2002 Double Keep Case Chapters 24 + 23 |
Release Information: Edition Details:
• Trailer |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion Collection Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-rayDisc Size: 43,237,819,249 bytesFeature: 42,748,226,688 bytes Video Bitrate: 25.97 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Commentary by film scholar Brian Stonehill (Part 1) • Commentary by film scholar Charles Affron (Part 2) Disc 2
• Video introduction by director Terry Gilliam
(5:14) Standard Blu-ray Keep Case Chapters 2 7 |
Recommended Reading in French Cinema (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
The Films in My Life |
French Cinema: A Student's Guide by Philip Powrie, Keith Reader |
Agnes Varda by Alison Smith | Godard on Godard : Critical Writings by Jean-Luc Godard | Notes on the Cinematographer by Robert Bresson |
Robert Bresson (Cinematheque Ontario Monographs, No.
2) by James Quandt |
The Art of Cinema by Jean Cocteau |
French New Wave
by Jean Douchet, Robert Bonnono, Cedric Anger, Robert Bononno |
French Cinema: From Its Beginnings to the Present by Remi Fournier Lanzoni |
Check out more in "The Library"
Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were ripped directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (August 2012): Having seen the original Criterion DVD, perhaps, a dozen times - Pathé’s 2011 restoration of the film took some getting used to. While there are significantly fewer artefacts than either of the DVD renderings - the 1080P image leans to a smoky-soft contrast, unpleasantly waxier, appearance. It is actually quite consistent and there is some subtle layering that advances beyond SD. Generally, there is quite a bit more information visible on the right edge, some on the left and a shade less on the bottom. Being brighter there is more detail. I eventually gave-in to the higher resolution but it's a shame it is so smeary.The sound has also been restored and Criterion offer it via a linear PCM mono track at 1152 kbps. The original music by Maurice Thiriet sounds significantly improved via lossless. This makes the conclusion all the more invigorating. I wouldn't say its crisp but it does export more depth. There are optional subtitles for the feature and disc 2 extras. Regarding the supplements: from the original Criterion 2002 DVD we get the commentary by film scholar Brian Stonehill (Part 1), and commentary by film scholar Charles Affron (Part 2) plus a second Blu-ray (single-layered) with the 5-minute video introduction by director Terry Gilliam, a restoration demonstration and the US trailer. New we get Once Upon a Time: “Children of Paradise,” is a 51-minute 2009 documentary by Julian Bonan on the making of the film and its impact on French cinema. It features interviews with film scholars Edward Turk and Pascal Ory and director Bertrand Tavernier, as well as archival interviews with the film's cast and crew. "The Look of Children of Paradise is a new, 22-minute, visual essay on the design of Children of Paradise by film writer Paul Ryan. It features sketches by screenwriter Jacques Prevert, production designer Alexandre Trauner, art director Leon Barsacq, and costume designer Mayo. The Birth of “Children of Paradise,” a 1967 hour-long documentary featuring interviews with director Marcel Carné; actors Arletty, Jean-Louis Barrault, and Pierre Brasseur; production designer Alexandre Trauner; and others. It revisits the film with key members of the cast and crew. Peter Gehrig discuses the movies influence on the New Wave with such directors as Louis Malle, Jacques Demy and Agnes Varda. There are liner notes in the package featuring an essay by film scholar Dudley Andrew and excerpts from a 1990 interview with Carné.*** ON THE DVD: Not much to say here that the images don't tell a story of their own. The Criterion is a marvelous patriarch, and the Second Sight is a vagabond cousin. This comparison shows a little cropping by Criterion on the top edge, but totally forgiven due to the extravagant differences between these two releases. Criterion have put the film on two DVDs (one DVD9, one DVD5), where Second Sight have just used one (DVD9). The Second Sight print appears to have been digitally brightened although still has some very dark scenes. The Criterion contrast is extremely even throughout, and obviously much cleaner and sharper. Second Sight's edition did come out 2 years before the Criterion so its hard to fault them as, to my knowledge, it was the first release of "Children of Paradise" on DVD. Still, lets me honest, Criterion are the Kings of this medium - the greatest DVD production company in the world. Their Extras are very insightful in this package from their 24 page liner notes to their Commentary by Brian Stonehill. This is one film you don't want to skrimp on. Get the Criterion now, if you don't already own it... and if you do, buy a second copy to place in your safety deposit box. |
Menus
(Criterion
- Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Second Sight - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blu-ray
Disc One Menus
Blu-ray
Disc Two Menus
|
|
|
|
|
|
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920 X 1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP2) Second Sight - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
|
Screen Captures
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP2) Second Sight - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
|
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP2) Second Sight - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
|
|
|
1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP2) Second Sight - Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
|
|
|
Report Card:
Image: |
Criterion Blu-ray |
Sound: |
CriterionBlu-ray |
Extras: | Criterion Blu-ray |